Regional banks

Though still feeling the effects of margin compression, the Columbus, Ohio-based company reported solid growth in loans and fee income and is projecting record spread income next year.

The Pittsburgh-based company's earnings fell 4% in the third quarter from a year ago, although noninterest income climbed 11%.

Federal regulators have rewritten the rules for bank mergers in a way that will discourage the kinds of deals necessary to preserve healthy regional banks.

The South Carolina-based bank considers itself a buyer, but has put the 17 months since announcing its last acquisition to good use, reassessing multiple business lines and upgrading technology.

When it comes to delivering superior return on average equity, smaller banks frequently punch above their weight, according to a recent study by Capital Performance Group and American Banker.

The sale of the $318 million-asset portfolio comes five weeks after the Greenville, South Carolina-based company agreed to sell its investment advisory unit.

The parent company of Fulton Bank announced the creation of three new management roles and promoted existing employees into those jobs. The changes follow the recent hiring of an outsider to be CFO.

The Cleveland-based regional bank continues to benefit from strength in investment banking, though concerns about stalled loan growth emerged as CEO Chris Gorman described demand as tepid.